ai weiwei poses 81 questions to artificial intelligence in 'ai vs AI' london exhibition

ai weiwei vs artificial intelligence

Between January 11 and March 31, 2024, Ai Weiwei poses 81 questions to artificial intelligence, for his latest project dubbed Ai vs AI. Marking the very first time that the artist has used AI for his art, the project spans 81 days, mirroring the duration of Ai Weiwei’s confinement in a Chinese prison back in 2011. Featuring a spectrum of philosophical, political, and scientific fields, each question contemplates humanity’s role in an ever-evolving world amidst global crises and advancing technologies. ‘This is not about freedom of speech. This is about freedom of questions,’ says Ai Weiwei. ‘Everybody has the right to ask questions.’

These seemingly unanswerable questions are broadcasted daily by the art and culture platform CIRCA, illuminating London’s Piccadilly Lights and other global locations, including Seoul, Berlin, and Milan. Ai Weiwei aims to share his insights into these questions, while both his responses and the AI’s answers are presented through CIRCA’s website and social media channels.

who am I? – Ai Weiwei: this is the ultimate question: who am I in opposition to the world? similarly, it delves into whether I am a part of the world, or the world is a part of me. this question remains unsolvable in reality. – artificial intelligence (AI): the question ‘who am I’ delves into personal identity and existential inquiry. it prompts individuals to reflect on their self-awareness, values, experiences, and the factors that define their sense of being. it is a philosophical and introspective question with subjective answers. *source: ChatGPT | image courtesy of CIRCA unless stated otherwise

ai weiwei’s 81-day quest for freedom through questions

Over the course of 81 days, the artist poses questions directed at both artificial intelligence and the broader public. Presented every evening at 20:24 local time on Piccadilly Lights, the questions vary from philosophical and scientific to humorous and absurd.

The project draws inspiration from Tiānwèn (天問, translated as ‘The Heavenly Questions’ or ‘Questions to Heaven’), a collection of 172 queries to the gods inscribed on a temple’s walls 2,300 years ago by the legendary poet Qu Yuan. At the same time, it draws a parallel to Ai Weiwei’s 81-day imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party. During his time in prison, Ai Weiwei was subjected to continuous interrogation by an authority that wielded its absolute power through mass manipulation of information: an unequal right to ask questions and have them answered.

can you describe a sunset using only numbers? – Ai Weiwei: unless we assert that numbers have the capacity to articulate anything including a sunset, numbers are incapable of expressing it. – artificial intelligence (AI): providing a numerical description of a sunset is challenging as it is a sensory and visual experience that cannot be fully captured by numbers alone. *source: ChatGPT

what is the one question you would like to ask humans? – Ai Weiwei: this question should be answered by AI. – artificial intelligence (AI): ‘How can humanity collectively strive for a more equitable and sustainable future?’ *source: ChatGPT

do you believe in karma? – Ai Weiwei: the concept of karma, originating from Buddhism, invites skepticism: does every action truly entail consequences? karma may not reveal itself within an individual’s lifetime. whether one engages in virtuous or malevolent deeds, the belief that karma manifests promptly is not universally held. the dichotomy of good and bad actions arises from the karma of our value judgments and interpretations, eluding concrete quantification. nevertheless, a certain inclination persists to embrace the notion that karma exists. – artificial intelligence (AI): belief in karma varies among individuals and cultures. it is a concept suggesting that one’s actions in this life or previous lives influence their future experiences. *source: ChatGPT